How many neutrons are present in the nucleus of a standard hydrogen atom?

• A. 0
• B. 2
• C. 1
• D. 3

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the isotope of hydrogen being referred to. A standard hydrogen atom is the most common isotope, known as protium.
2. Recall that the atomic number (Z) of hydrogen is 1, which means it has 1 proton in its nucleus.
3. Understand that the number of neutrons (N) in an atom is given by the difference between the mass number (A) and the atomic number (Z): \(N = A - Z\).
4. For standard hydrogen (protium), the mass number (A) is 1 because it has only 1 proton and no neutrons.
5. Calculate the number of neutrons: \(N = 1 - 1 = 0\), so there are zero neutrons in the nucleus of a standard hydrogen atom.